Stiphodon Imperiorientis

📖 Overview

Prefers to inhabit areas of boulders with a rock and gravel bottoms in clear streams and mainly feed on epiphyte and biofilm on rocks in the wild. Due to its amphidromous nature, as known to occur with its congeners (adults live and breed in freshwater streams; larvae hatched drift downstream and develop in marine environments; juveniles return to freshwater streams), blockage of the migration pathway (e.g. construction of dam or culvert in streams) would cause a significant impact on this species. Ensuring no net loss of habitat, keeping the natural stream flow and maintaining the stream-ocean corridor are all essential for preserving this species (based on researches on its congeners; see Ref. 82683, 82684, 82685, 82689, 82690, 82692). Collection conducted by aquarium hobbyists (both private and commercial) also poses a serious threat to Stiphodon species in some regions and this kind of activity should be strictly controlled .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 10. This species is a large-sized Stiphodon with the pectoral fin spotted and sexual dimorphism obvious. Mature male with body grey or dark with iridescent blue/ green/ purple lateral bars (depending on viewing angle), snout and cheek iridescent blue/ green/ purple, first dorsal fin elongated and triangular, second dorsal fin with obvious spots (spots on first dorsal fin not obvious) and the female with two obvious transverse stripes on the body .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Stiphodon Imperiorientis is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; amphidromous. Subtropical South China, and probably appears in eastern Taiwan.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute